Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Guilds Association, Genhuis City.

"I'd say that went well," Alaris said with an exhausted breath. While he was a powerful combat expert at the Master Stage, having intense verbal back and forths with business minds was especially draining for him.

"I hope that's sarcasm," the sharply dressed man beside him said with a stern expression as the two along with a third individual exited the doors to an expansive conference room.

"Somehow I knew our opinions would differ," Alaris said.

Once a year, a general meeting would be held in the Association Branch to review the collective performance of the branch and to discuss directives issued out by the higher management.

There had been a heavy debate in this meeting, mostly concerning the decision from the higher ups about a morale boosting event that they wanted to hold for their mercenaries.

Most mercenaries wouldn't be participating in the Premium Age Royale and the decision to hold an event that paralleled the Royale for the free spirits managed by the Association was the biggest announcement so far. One that seemed more like a challenge.

"This certainly appeals better to your dilemma about joining the Premium Age Royale or not doesn't it? Or perhaps it's the opposite. Which would you prefer to commit to? The Association or your Family?" the sharply dressed, serious man probed.

Alaris gave it some thought. Not that he hadn't before but his decision right now was the one that would determine what route he took.

"I'm not looking to fight for a higher title. I have prestige, I have pride and none that is worth losing over a death game for more than I was destined to achieve," Alaris said with a proud smile.

"That's pretty self righteous..." the third individual among the three said.

It was a tall young man with a handsome face and tanned skin. The smirk he wore spelled confidence and a dash of haughtiness while the beautiful bow behind his back, with all its rare glory gave some insight into more of his style of life.

"Only established people like you can say something like that. I'd go for more any chance I get. The phrase 'biting off more than you can chew' was designed to keep simple idiots in line. Not sure why you would be afraid of rising further when you've been doing so all this time. How else can you grow if not by being greedy?"

Both Alaris and the sharply dressed man didn't entertain the man's enthusiasm. Since he was inducted into the exclusive circle, given the Rank 3 position for his prowess and potential combined, he had grown more and more ambitious.

The two couldn't help but feel the unjust nature of reality.

Giving someone like this more freedom and more resources was...

"Wrong..."

"What?" Alaris asked the sharply dressed man.

"Nothing. By the way, I heard that newcomer took three high level missions all at once. Was he that zealous or did you egg him on?"

"I did no such thing," Alaris defended himself. "He seemed to be... impatient."

"Most of them are. Has he returned?"

"I doubt it, but a mere blue Cluster and a bandit group wouldn't trouble someone like him."

"Really? You have that much confidence in him?" The sharply dressed man asked with a brow raised while the tall young man looked at Alaris with a frown.

To receive so much praise from Alaris... one had to be extraordinary.

But the newcomer of all people?!

The last to join the exclusive mercenary circle was said to be a Rank 4 and it was Alaris who gave that Rank. So why would he still hold him in high regard?

"It's not confidence. It's just the simple fact that he was holding out on us," Alaris said. "He was holding back, as if he was the one evaluating us. He even challenged me to a one and one but he still held out on me. I gave him a Rank befitting what he showed. I can't ascertain potential when the person in question doesn't show their full strength."

Holding out?

Who would hold out on Alaris?

The duo that the evaluator was walking with asked themselves this question, but with vastly different emotions on the matter.

As they all scaled down the stairs, a contemplative silence ensued.

"That's surprising. I thought it would take a considerable amount of effort to cause that much damage to someone like Stephine. If that is indeed the case then I should pay more attention to him," the sharply dressed man said, recalling the lanky armed evaluators wounds and his mind that was yet to get fully restored.

'Hmm. Right. They said he was Mage. Tsk. The bastard probably used a high level spell to spook Alaris and earn a spot here. Damn it! He's stealing the spotlight without evening showing if he's worthy to join this side of the mercenary prestige. That's unfair!' the mercenary said with bitter jealousy.

The conversation about this newcomer carried on until the three reached the fifth floor of the Association.

"Well... speak of the devil," Alaris said with chuckle while gazing ahead.

In front of a serving desk, a young looking man with slicked back light auburn hair and a tough looking getup was handing in a large sack with a couple of heavy items inside it.

Behind him was a lime haired girl who kept looking at everything in wonder, a big smile etched on her face.

The woman behind the desk told Skullius to place the sack down on the ground where it was covered in a light and disappeared from sight.

"Oh..." Skullius voiced in a bit of surprise.

Rist, the woman behind the service glass counter smiled proudly.

"I almost forgot you aren't from here. In this branch we have a system that automatically matches the energy signatures from the corpses you bring and the readings we would have taken from emerging Clusters beforehand. From the looks of it..." Rist paused while looking at something akin to a sheet on her desk, "...you only completed two out of the three missions you took?"

"Yes. The fire spitting socketholes from the Cluster and a bunch of giant ants that had made a forest their home. Annoying bunch," Skullius said, referencing the second mission which he had completed within two minutes on the way here.

Only one mission remained.

"Oh, that's alright. If you found some valuables on your missions, you're permitted to keep them. It's one of the perks of being an exclusive mercenary," Rist said with a reassuring cheer.

'I wasn't planning on handing them over regardless,' Skullius thought. 'Hmm. I should also get out of here before this non-sockethole gets too friendly. I almost forget there are a bunch of good ones here and there. Disgusting.'

There was a system in place to ensure that mercenaries returned the treasures they found within Clusters or in bandit hideouts.

Ensured was not the right word, but the system attempted to retain control on such.

An incentive was given per every item handed in, though this applied less to stronger experts who didn't care much for gold or even plasma coins, to which the Association couldn't do anything but use the power of the Capital Service to regulate usage of such powers within the city and their own outside the city.

So far, regardless of how many Legendary weapons were outside their clutches, their use were controlled.

That was the power of the Guild's Association in Genhuis City.

"Festos..." Alaris called to which Skullius turned, his white eyes focusing on the evaluator. He already knew the man and his company were there.

"Ah, Alaris," Skullius said before turning to the other man and nodding, pretending their arrival was a surprise.

The sharply dressed man reciprocated, his eyes judging Skullius by his demeanour and the fact that he seemed to be done with some of his missions.

"Are incentives in order after your missions?" the man asked Skullius.

"No. I'll come back for them later. I have some urgent matters right now," Skullius replied.

The exclusive mercenary next to the two almost boiled in rage as he was thoroughly ignored!

Worse yet, Alaris and the other man were conversing so casually with Skullius, as if they were acquaintances!

So what if he was a Mage?!

Really strong Mages wouldn't be trying to make a living as mercenaries!

This was...

This was....!

"So you're the newcomer," the tall man, pushed by jealousy and a false sense of superiority, said as he walked forward.

He reached Skullius and held his shoulder with his head raised, his eyes looking down at the Hybrid Luman.

"I'm Tomace, a Rank 3 mercenary," the young man said. "I see you're still green. How about having me be your mentor? Maybe in three... or four years you'll rise up to Rank 3 with my assistance. Sound good?" Tomace said while exuding a sharp presence to intimidate Skullius, his face turning to flash a smile at Yuyui who waved her hand in greeting innocently.

"Hello ther—" Tomace was about to speak to Yuyui when...

....!

BOOOOOM!

"Argh!" Tomace suddenly kneeled down on the ground while groaning in pain!

What the hell?!

His body had felt heavy all of a sudden and before he could react, his knees had sunken deep into the floor!

Tomace gritted his teeth while wondering what had happened.

He hadn't sensed anything.

He still couldn't sense anything.

But the words that were spoken from the young man before him made everything clear.

"That's my mule. Go find your own, sockethole."

Skullius spoke in a chilling voice while pushing Yuyui back, extending his left hand to Tomace's face and flicking his index finger at the man's forehead!

WHAAAAAAAM!

A dreadful force smacked Tomace's face and he screamed in pain as his torso arched back and smashed into the floor in a blur, his body left roiling in an unnatural position!

Rist's eyes bulged.

She hadn't seen much but a blur before Tomace was smashed into the floor!

Alaris and the sharply dressed man however looked unfazed.

Surprised but unfazed.

"I see your point now, Alaris," the sharply dressed man said.

---

[Ding!]

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